Valentines for All
Valentines for All
When Esther Howland first saw the fancy valentine her father brought home from England, most Americans thought Valentine’s Day was a waste of time. But through the card, Esther felt how much her father loved her. Could she help others express themselves in the same way?
The Thunder Pause
As a storm brews outside, a younger brother takes a green marker to his older sister’s favorite drawing. She is so angry that all she can do is yell and stomp away. It’s only when Grandpa applies the thunder pause game he taught her—counting seconds between the lightning flash and the boom—that she is able to control her temper. A perfect addition to SEL collections, this story offers a memorable, practical exercise that kids can use to find calm anytime, anywhere.
The Ocean Is More than a Home for Fish
Our five oceans cover about 71 percent of the earth’s surface and hold about 97 percent of our water. A central part of the planet’s water cycle, oceans are essential to all living things. They are home to thousands of species, and they provide humans with food and medicine. Oceans are one of the world’s most valuable natural resources, and we must take care of them.
Smout and the Lighthouse
Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s letters and life, this book imagines the author as a child with dreams of becoming a writer. As he and his father visit one of the many lighthouses along the Scottish coast that were built by their family, young Louis begins composing a story in his head—one with storms, shipwrecks, and pirates—that will one day be published as Treasure Island.
Princess Persephone and the Money Wizards
Princess Persephone wants her friends to come along on the summer vacation of her dreams, but they can’t afford tickets. No problem! She can just tell Ganymede’s Money Wizards to print more bills. Though a wizard explains that doing so could lead to price hikes, Persephone insists. Then her royal subjects go on a spending spree, creating a shortage of the tickets her friends need for their trip. What’s a princess to do?
Our Class Is a Country
Students of different races, ethnicities, and abilities welcome readers to their class in this uplifting read-aloud.
Mama’s Year with Cancer
This poignant story follows a child who watches her mother go through the pain and distress of hospital stays, surgery, and chemotherapy. She helps her mother by sharing jokes, crafting get-well cards, and giving hugs, and she tries to be understanding when they can’t do all the things they used to do. Finally, after a year of treatment, her mother gets to ring the bell that means she is better.
Lila and the Jack-o’-Lantern
When Lila and her family leave Ireland for the United States, Lila misses many things, but especially Halloween. Each year, she and her siblings look forward to tricking a sly spirit named Jack by carving turnips into jack-o’-lanterns and walking the streets of their small town in ghostly costumes. Now, with no turnips in sight, can she bring the spirit of the holiday to the crowded city streets of her new home?
Daisy Bubble
After Arlene the giant tortoise walks down the aisle wearing a crown of daisies, everyone wants some of the beautiful blooms for themselves. Florists sell out quickly, but Sly Seal has a daisy stash that allows him to drive up the price. Soon his customers start buying flowers from each other at even higher markups, hoping to sell them later for a profit. By the time word spreads that more daisies are on the way, this bubble is ready to burst.
Be Wild
Did you know that orangutans make their beds every day? Or that warthogs sit down to dine? Packed with interesting facts about animal behaviors, this nonfiction picture book shows children the healthy habits they can learn from creatures in the wild. Encourage kids to embrace their inner elephant, octopus, or sloth with this educational and entertaining read.